ESCAPE TO THE WEST IN THE MEMORIES OF ESTONIANS IN ARGENTINA: THE HISTORICAL, SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CONTEXT; pp. 125–145

Authors

Aivar JÜRGENSON

Abstract

This article presents memories and interpretations of the mass escape of 1944 based on the experiences of Estonians in Argentina. The aim is, first and foremost, to analyse how people remember the events they experienced and what influence historical, social and psychological contexts could have had in interpreting these memories. A further aim is to open the functions of the escape story: The reasons why people talked about the escape and also the reasons why they might remain silent about it. Attention is also paid to intrapersonal processes, emotions that triggered traumatic events and the influence these could have had on narrative interaction in the Argentinean immigrant community.

6. J. Madise gives 201 as the number of Estonian war refugees who had officially arrived in Argentina from Germany (Madise , J.Emigratsioon Saksamaalt. – In: Eesti saatusaastad , IV (1945–1960). Poliitilised põgenikud. EMP , Stockholm , 1966 , 188). It is not known whether the above figure also includes refugees from Denmark and Austria – as is known , one Germany was occupied , the other ‘united’. Surely this number does not include those who had resettled in Argentina from Sweden , who were a considerable number. According to P. Poljan , there were 42 Estonians in Argentina on 1 January 1952 (Полян П. Жертвы двух диктатур: жизнь , труд , унижение и смерть советских военнопленных и остарбайтеров на чужбине и на родине. Москва , 2002 , 824). This figure is surely too low.

15. For young German men and women a six-month alternative service was compulsory , for the youth of occupied nations , voluntary. In invitations to the state alternative service it was emphasised that the service teaches the youth necessary discipline , gives an experience for a responsible life and adds a possibility to meet people of the same age from all social strata. Also , excursions to places of natural beauty in Germany were used as an attraction. Most girls who completed the alternative service (RAD) also completed a nursing course , they were appointed to hospitals and field hospitals (see Vainomäe , A. Eessõna. – In: Labida ja relvaga. Eestlastest tööl ja võitluses II maailmasõjas. Comp. L. Kosenkranius. Esto RADi Ajaloo toimkond , Tartu , 2005 , 7–8).

18. There were also people who saw a business opportunity in transporting refugees. As German ‘Ost Marks’ were considerred worthless , travellers were charged in gold , silver or other valuables. In Swedish currency , the price for a trip was between 300 and 1200 crowns (Andræ , C. G. Rootsi ja suur põgenemine Eestist 1943–1944. Olion , Tallinn , 2005 , 97–98).

34. A month before that , on August 19 , 1944 , the German ship “Wartheland” had brought to Estonia 200 fighters from the infantry regiment who were returning from Finland (see Laar , M. Eesti Teises maailmasõjas , 57).